Art councils contribute to quality of life within communities

Arts councils bring communities together to enjoy a shared love of music, visual art, and performances. Thanks to a well-coordinated system, local arts councils are able to work with their provincial partner to select and book entertainment that ignites interest and builds community.

There are 45 volunteer-run art councils located across Saskatchewan. Along with 80 different schools, the arts councils are part of a network of community organizers that connect to the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) to access professional artists, support in running quality exhibitions and performances, and other professional development opportunities. Last year, arts councils and schools offered 258 shows around the province, engaging over 52, 151 people.

Kevin Korchinski, executive director, OSAC, says that this system works to ensure that communities can have access to quality arts and performance, selected through the organization’s criteria and lengthy experience with booking entertainment. He says, OSAC’s role is to make it easier for local art councils across the province to access these artistic opportunities for their communities. “All the scheduling and contracting with artists comes through our office,” he says. “We make it a turnkey operation for the volunteers.”

Joanne Bolen, chair, Melfort Arts Council, helped choose her council’s roster of artists for the 2024-2025 season from OSAC’s “Showcase” conference last September. “The fact that OSAC is there to say, ‘Here we've curated all these shows, take your pick,’ it's just like, ‘I want that one and I want that one,’” she laughs. “They’re really great to lean on. If you feel like you're doing this work alone then it's daunting, but if you've got people that really want to see you succeed without strings attached, it's great.”

Melfort Arts Council brought in three of OSAC’s recommended performers, which included Diyet and the Love Soldiers, Ellen Froese and Jack Garton. One hundred people turned out for each of the shows at Melfort’s Kerry Vickar Centre, and the local animal shelter received funds from the food sales at the first two. Twenty-eight school groups toured visual art from OSAC’s exhibitions in Melfort, and three exhibitions at the Kerry Vickar Centre brought in 10,100 people. The Council also offered an arts adjudication and workshop by Leah Dorian, attended by six artists.

Besides bringing out audiences, Bolen says partnering with local non-profits at their events helps connect with new people and surrounding communities. By doing so, “we are reaching out to people who may not necessarily come to Melfort for a concert,” she says.

Melfort Arts Council organized a launch last September, for the first time, to celebrate its upcoming season. The event was such a hit that the Council now holds one every year. “Someone said it was like a family reunion,” says Bolen, who noted the idea for the launch was suggested by OSAC.

Korchinski emphasizes the impact of art councils in bringing arts and culture to their communities. “It’s a real communitybuilder when people see how volunteers are bringing this quality of art to their community.”

The Melfort Arts Council is supported by the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils, which is funded by the Sask Lotteries Trust Fund for Sport, Culture and Recreation.